The same in English.

A briefe commentarie of Island: wherein the errors of such as haue written concerning this Island, are detected,
and the slanders, and reproches of certaine strangers, which they haue vsed ouer-boldly against the people of Island
are confuted.

By Arngrimus Ionas, of Island.

To the most mighty Prince and Lord, Lord Christian the 4. 1 of Denmarke,
Norway, and of the Vandals and Gothes, King elect: of Sleswic, Holste, Stormar, and Dithmarse Duke: Earle of Oldenburg,
and Delmenhorst: His most gratious Lord.

That heroical attempt of Anchurus, sonne of King Midas (most gratious prince) and that pietie towards his countrey
in maner peerelesse, deserueth highly to be renowmed in histories: in that freely and couragiously he offered his owne
person, for the stopping vp of an huge gulfe of earth, about Celoena, a towne in Phrigia, which daily swallowed
multitudes of men and whatsoeuer else came neere vnto it. For when his father Midas was aduertised by the Oracle, that
the said gulfe should not be shut vp, before things most precious were cast into it; Anchurus deeming nothing to be
more inualuable then life plunged himselfe aliue downe headlong into that bottomless hole; and that with so great
vehemencie of mind, that neither by his fathers request nor by the allurements and teares of his most amiable wife, he
suffered himselfe to be drawne backe from this his enterprise.2

Sperthius also and Bulis, two Lacedemonians, were not much inferiour to the former, who to turne away the reuenge of
Xerxes that most puissant King of the Persians, entended against the Lacedemonians, for killing the ambassadors of his
father Darius, hyed them vnto the sayd king and that he might auenge the ambassadours death vpon them, not vpon their
countrey, with hardy, and constant mindes presented themselues before him.

The very same thing (most gracious prince) which moued them and many others being enflamed with the loue of their
countrey, to refuse for the benefite thereof, no danger, no trouble, no nor death it selfe, the same thing (I say) hath
also enforced me, not indeed to vndergoe voluntarie death, or freely to offer my selfe vnto the slaughter, but yet to
assay that which I am able for the good of my countrey: namely, that I may gather together and refute the errors, and
vaine reports of writers, concerning the same: and so take vpon me a thing very dangerous, and perhaps subiect to the
sinister iudgement of many.

In this purpose the example of Cneius Pompeius hath likewise confirmed me: who being chosen procurator for corne
among the Romanes, and in an extreme scarcetie and dearth of the citie hauing taken vp some store of grains in Sicilia,
Sardinia, and Africa, is reported to haue had greater regard of his countrey, then of himselfe. For when he made haste
towards Rome, and a mighty and dangerous tempest arising, he perceiued the Pilots to tremble, and to be vnwilling to
commit themselues to the rigor of the stormie sea, himselfe first going on boord, and commanding the anchors to be
weighed, brake foorth into these words: That we should sayle necessitie vrgeth: but that we should liue, it vrgeth not.
In which words he seemeth wisely to inferre, that greater care is to be had of our countrey lying in danger, then of
our owne priuate safetie.

This man doe I thus imitate,
If small with great as equals may agree:
And Flie with Elephant compared bee.

Namely that gathering together and laying vp in store those things which might be applied to succour the fame and
credite of our nation, hauing now this long time bene oppressed with strangers, through the enuie of certeine malicious
persons, I boldly aduenture to present these fewe meditations of mine vnto the viewe of the world, and so hoysing vp
sailes to commit my selfe vnto a troublesome sea, and to breake foorth into the like speeches with him: That I should
write necessitie vrgeth: but that my writings in all places should satisfie euery delicate taste, or escape all
peeuishnes of carpers it vrgeth not. I doubt not but many will allow this my enterprise: the successe perhaps all men
will not approue. Neuertheles, I thought that there was greater regard to be had of my countrey, sustaining so many
mens mocks and reproches, then of mine owne praise or dispraise, redounding perhaps vnto me vpon this occasion. For
what cause should moue me to shunne the enuie and hate of some men, being ioyned with an endeuour to benefite and
gratifie my countrey?

The errors of the writers of Island intolerable.

But if I shall seeme somewhat too bold in censuring the errors of writers, or too seuere in reprehending the
slanders of some men: yet I hope all they will iudge indifferently of me, who shall seriously consider, how intolerable
the errors of writers are, concerning our nation: how many also and how grieuous be the reproches of some, against vs,
wherewith they haue sundry wayes prouoked our nation, and as yet will not cease to prouoke. They ought also to haue me
excused in regard of that in-bred affection rooted in the hearts of all men, towards their natiue soile, and to pardon
my iust griefe for these iniures offered vnto my countrey. And I in very deed, so much as lay in me, haue in all places
moderated my selfe, and haue bene desirous to abstaine from reproches but if any man thinke, we should haue vsed more
temperance in our stile, I trust, the former reason will content him.

Sithens therefore, I am to vndergo the same hazard, which I see is commonly incident to all men that publish any
writings: I must now haue especiall regarde of this one thing: namely, of seeking out some patron, and Mecoenas for
this my briefe commentary, vnder whose name and protection it may more safety passe through the hands of all men.

But for this purpose I could not finde out, nor wish for any man more fit then your royal Maiestie, most gratious
prince For vnto him, who hath receiued vnder his power & tuition our liues and goods, vnto him (I say) doe we make
humble sute, that he would haue respect also vnto the credit of our nation, so iniuriously disgraced.

Yea verily (most gracious King) we are constreined to craue your Maiesties mercifull aide, not only in this matter,
but in many other things also which are wanting in our countrey, or which otherwise belong to the publique commoditie
and welfare thereof which not by me, but by the letters supplicatory of the chiefe men of our nation, are at this time
declared, or will shortly be declared. For we doubt not but that your sacred Maiesties, after the example of your
Christian predecessors, will vouchsafe vnto our countrey also, amongst other Islands of your Maiesties dominion, your
kingly care and protection. For as the necessitie of fleeing for redresse vnto your sacred Maiestie, is ours so the
glory of relieuing, regarding, and protecting vs, shal wholy redound vnto your sacred Maiestie: as also, there is layd
vp for you, in respect of your fostering and preseruing of Gods church, vpon the extreme northerly parts almost of the
whole earth, and in the vttermost bounds of your Maiesties dominion (which by the singular goodnes of God, enioyeth at
this present tranquillitie and quiet safetie) a reward and crowne of immortall life in the heauens.

But considering these things are not proper to this place, I wil leaue them, and returne to my purpose which I haue
in hand: most humbly beseeching your S. M. that yon would of your clemencie vouchsafe to become a fauorer, and patron
vnto these my labours and studies, for the behalfe of my countrey.

It now remaineth (most gracious and mercifull souereigne) for vs to make our humble prayers vnto almighty God, that
king of kings, and disposer of all humane affaires, that it would please him of his infinite goodnes, to aduance your
Maiestie (yearely growing vp in wisedome & experience, and all other heroicall vertues) to the highest pitch of
souereigntie: and being aduanced, continually to blesse yon with most prosperous successe in all your affaires: and
being blessed, long to preserue you, as the chief ornament, defence and safegarde of these kingdomes, and as the shield
and fortresse of his church: and hereafter in the life to come, to make you shine glorious like a starre, amongst the
principall nurcing fathers of Gods Church, in the perfect ioy of his heauenly kingdome. The same most mercifull father
likewise grant, that these praiers, the oftener they be dayly repeated and multiplied in euery corner of your Maiesties
most ample territories & Islands, so much the more sure and certain they may remaine, Amen. At Haffnia, or Copen
Hagen 1593. in the moneth of March. Y. S. M. most humble subiect,

3 A celebrated Icelandic astronomer, disciple of Tycho Brahe, and coadjutor
of the Bishop of Holen, died in 1649 at the great age of 95. His principal works, besides his Description and History
of Iceland, (published at Amsterdam in 1643, 4to), are _Idea Vera Magistratus_ (Copenhagen, 1689, 8vo); _Rerum
Islandicarum libri tres_ (Hamburg, 1630, 4to); _The Life of Gundebrand de Thorlac_, etc. He is remembered amongst the
peasantry of Iceland as the only instance known in that country of a man of ninety-one marrying a girl in her
teens.

The same in English.

To the courteous and Christian reader Gudbrandus Thorlacius, Bishop of Holen in Island, wisheth health.

There came to light about the yeare of Christ 1561, a very deformed impe, begotten by a certain Pedlar of Germany:
namely a booke of German rimes of al that euer were read the most filthy and most slanderous against the nation of
Island. Neither did it suffice the base printer once to send abroad that base brat, but he must publish it also thrise
or foure times ouer: that he might thereby, what lay in him, more deepely disgrace our innocent nation among the
Germans, & Danes, and other neighbour countries, with shamefull, and euerlasting ignominie. So great was the malice
of this printer, & his desire so greedy to get lucre, by a thing vnlawfull. And this he did without controlment,
euen in that citie, which these many yeres hath trafficked with Island to the great gaine, and commodity of the
citizens. His name is Ioachimus Leo, a man worthy to become lions foode.

Great errors grow vpon mariners fabulous reports.

Moreouer, there are many other writers found, who when they would seeme to describe the miracles of nature, which
are thought to be very many in this Island, & the maners, & customs of the Islanders, haue altogether swarued
from the matter and truth it selfe, following mariners fables more trifling than old wiues tales, & the most vain
opinions of the common sort. These writers, although they haue not left behind them such filthy and reprochful stuffe
as that base rimer: yet there are many things in their writings that wil not suffer them to be excused, &
altogether acquited from causing an innocent nation to be had in derision by others. Wherefore marking, reading, &
weighing these things with my selfe, & considering that there dayly spring vp new writers, which offer iniury to
the fame & reputation of the Islanders, being such men also as do shamelesly filtch out of other mens labours,
deluding their readers with feined descriptions, & a new rehearsal of monsters, I often wished that some one man
would come forth, to make answere to the errors of historiographers & other vniust censurers: and by some writing,
if not to free our innocent nation from so many reproches, yet at leastwise, in some sort to defend it, among Christian
& friendly readers. And for this cause I haue now procured an honest and learned young man one Arngrimus
Fitz-Ionas, to peruse the works of authors, that haue written anything concerning Island, and by sound reasons to
detect their errors, & falshoods. And albeit at the first he was very loth, yet at length my friendly admonition,
& the common loue of his countrey preuailed with him so farre, that he compiled this briefe commentary, taking his
proofes, not out of the vaine fables of the people, but from his owne experience, and many other mens also of
sufficient credit.

Now, he that vndertooke this matter at my procurement, did againe as it were by his owne authority chalenge at my
hands, that I should in two or three words at least, make a preface vnto his booke; thinking it might gaine some
credit, and authority thereby. Wherfore to speake my minde in a word: for my part, I iudge hin to haue taken both
honest & necessary paines, who hath done his indeuour not onely to weigh the diuers opinions of wrighters
concerning things vnknowen, and to examine them by the censure of trueth, and experience, but also to defend his
countrey from the venemous bitings of certaine sycophants. It is thy part therefore (gentle reader) to accept this
small treatise of his, being as it were guarded with the sacred loue of truth, and of his countrey, against the
peruersnes of carpers. Farewel.